Part 22 (1/2)

”Do tell.”

”My people are allies with Willow Bean but I wouldn't call her a friend,” Deal said. ”She is too much like her mother.”

”Can't you be more specific than that?”

Deal circled Sasha in a lazy flying motion.

”Years ago we helped Willow Bean and Charles find a cache of precious metals,” Deal said. ”They took the treasure without following through on the promise that was made to my people.”

”What are your people?”

”We are Horum,” Deal said as if Sasha knew what that meant. She made a motion with her hand for him to continue. ”We are a small people. We have made ourselves very useful in the information exchange business.”

”Why are you helping me?”

”Because I was told to,” Deal said settling on her arm again. ”The Horum are very intuitive. They know change is coming to Tysseland. My masters thought it advantageous to help Willow Bean's daughter, especially if Willow Bean becomes queen one day soon.”

Sasha stared at Deal incredulously. Willow Bean was going to be queen?

”I don't think that will happen anytime soon,” Sasha said. ”My mother doesn't like moving.”

”Now, can I tell you why I am here?” Deal said impatiently.

”Go ahead,” Sasha said. She wasn't satisfied with the answers he gave her. It was exhausting talking to him. She felt very drained like when she used magic. Geez. Why hadn't she used magic to untie the ropes? It was like her brain was frozen. Ignoring Deal, Sasha turned to the ropes and concentrated. It must have been obvious on her face because Deal flew between her eyes.

”Don't bother,” he said in a high-pitched voice. ”Your magic won't work here. There is a spell over this chamber. Unless you know how to break the spell no one but Vania can use magic.”

Sasha slumped against the cold wall, broken, and slid to the floor. She was doomed unless Evan could find her. She couldn't imagine he would. The castle was like a maze and she had no idea where she was.

”Ok, what did you want to tell me?”

Deal flew in front of her and blew into the air. A cloud of gold dust appeared above him.

”I thought you said magic couldn't work in here,” she said, a bit whiny.

”Mine can,” he said. ”Horum aren't human.”

”Well then set me free,” she said scrambling to her feet.

This time she saw Deal shake its head.

”She would know it was me,” Deal said.

Sasha knew he meant Vania. He didn't have to explain his fear of the queen's revenge. She was a vindictive woman. The curse she put on Sasha was case in point. She stayed quiet as he flew into the gold cloud and moved particles around. She watched as lines formed into a picture. Finally she could tell it was a map.

”Wow,” she said impressed. ”Pretty neat trick.”

Deal finished the picture and flew to the side. Indicating with his miniscule arm, he pointed to the largest room on the map.

”This is where they'll bring you,” Deal said.

”How do you know this?”

Deal ignored her question and flew to a tiny room that seemed to be several floors beneath the bas.e.m.e.nt on the other side of the map.

”This is where you want to go,” Deal said.

Since Deal was in the information business, Sasha figured he knew what she was seeking.

”Ok,” she said studying the map closely. ”How do I get there?”

Deal got inside the map and then followed the hallways he drew that led to tiny room.

”The room is underneath her bed chamber,” he said. ”It can be accessed from the sleeping quarters or from behind a statue in this hallway.”

Deal showed her where the statue was located.

”What does it look like?”

Deal described an ogre. It was a gigantic beast of at least 400 pounds. It was made of stone and couldn't be moved the conventional way.

”Should we go through the bed chamber then?”

Deal shook his head.

”There will be many guards posted there.”

”If the ogre can't be moved, how do we get in?”

Sasha knew she wasn't going to like the answer when Deal gave her a sympathetic look.

”You have to slay the ogre.”

That sounded crazy. How can a stone ogre be killed?

”I don't get it.”

”You have to wake the ogre,” Deal said. ”And fight it to the death.”

Cold fear like a heavy stone sunk into the pit of her stomach. In addition to finding the talisman, she had to fight some vicious animal that was four times her weight.

”This isn't going to work,” she said. ”I think I should go through the bed chamber.”

Deal shook his head again.

”Trust me,” Deal said. ”This is doable.”